Breeders’ cup target: Curlin reverts to dirt classics

World Cup winner Curlin is likely to be kept to racing on dirt after his recent turf debut defeat. Connections appear to have ditched plans to aim him at France's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in favour of a campaign culminating in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Majority owner Jess Jackson explained: "We considered many options but we decided this is the best place to showcase his talent, racing him in America and racing him on a surface where he's already a champion.

"He's very fit, he's very happy here right now and we wanted to take advantage of that and do what's best for the horse.

"The Arc is probably out for this year," Jackson added. "We think he can be a turf champion but I'm not sure he has enough time this year to make the adjustment."

Now for hawk-eye

Tennis and cricket fans, even disenchanted English ones, may be interested to know that Hawk-Eye style technology is on its way to a racecourse near you. On trial in the UK at the moment, it will be used on big screens to decipher the outcome of close finishes as the judge makes his decision. Hmmm...

Gerrard on course

With the Premiership football season just around the corner Captain Gerrard is topical and I was talking to his trainer Bryan Smart yesterday who said he is bang on course for the Nunthorpe at York on August 22. "He worked so well this morning he left a vapour trail," he said.

Keep an eye out for the same connections' Striker Torres.